Locking device



July 22,1941. J. M HoTHERsAl- L 2,249,764

LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 9, 195s atented july 22, ldt

unirse STATES PATENT orifice LOCKING DEVICE John M. Hothersaii,Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation oi.' New Jersey Application July 9, 193s, serial No. 218,467

v4 claims. (c1. zzo-s1) The present invention relates to locking devicesfor holding containers or cans together in a unitary structure and hasparticular reference to a metallic band which may be quickly applied tothe end seams o1' stacked cans to clamp the latter tightly together,subsequent separation of the cans not ordinarily being desired.

In the packaging of certain products in cans it is desirable topermanently connect two or more cans together in a unitary structure sothat they may be used as such. One such use is for high explosives whichare packed in cans each containing a predetermined quantity oi theproduct and the cans are adapted to be used in varying numbers to securedifferent desired explosive effects. For example, this unit charge maybe obtained by three cans locked together and low ered into a drilledhole in the ground or rock where the explosive may be used. In othercases the full enect of compartment cans may be obtained by securelytying together two or more cans by a suitable device. The presentinvention contemplates such'a suitable locking device which may bequickly and easily applied to any desired pairs o1' cans by attachmentto their end seams and with the cans arranged in stacked formation. Y

An object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of a lockingband which is adapted: to be quickly and easily clamped around adjoiningend seams of two adjacent cans and to permanently grip them tightlytogether with. a uniform pressure evenly distributed around the can wallwhile at -the same time holding them rmly against sidewise shifting.

Another object is the provision of such a locking band which is providedwith spaced rows of holding elements which engage against the adjoiningend seams of the cans to be locked together and is further provided witha tongue and slot connection supplemented by interengageable and nestinglocking members which are adapted to permanently lock together the endsof the band when in locking position.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, taken`in connection with the accompanyingdrawing,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring -to the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lockingband embodying the instant invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 .are sectional views oi.' the band taken substantiallyalong the respective lines 22, 3-3 and I-A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of stacked cans securedtogether in a unitary structure by vlocking bands of the style shown inFig. 1,

the view showing howl the bands are applied to the cans; y y

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through a band connected toadjacent cans in a stack, the view being taken substantially along theline I-G in ig. 5, with portions 'of the cans broken away: an

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the locked endsof the band as applied to thecans. the view being taken substantiallyalong the line 'I-I in Fig. 5.

As an embodiment of the invention the drawing discloses a channelshapedsplit ring or band II (Fig. l) which in cross-section includes astraight body section I2 (seealso Fig. 2) which merges into inwardlybent edges or ilanges I3. Arranged in the wall and extending around thering in parallel spaced rows are a plurality ot spaced arcuate holdinglugs or elements I4 (see also Fig. 3) each having a straight open baseIl. These lugs are 'bent or struck inwardly from the body section I2.

One end of the band is slightly enlarged in its transverse dimension fora portion of its length as indicated at I6 (Fig. 1). The opposite end isslightly reduced transversely as at II. The enlarged end I@ is provided'with a tongue 2| (Fig. 1). The reduced end is formed with a slot 22(see also Fig. 4) which is adapted to receive the tongue. 'I'his slot isformed in a raised boss 23 on the outside of the body section i2.

The end portions of the band are also provided with a plurality oftriangular shaped locking projections or members 25, having open bases21 which are disposed transversely of the band and in the same relativeposition in the two end Aportions as shown in Fig. l. These projectionsare formed or struck in the body section I2 and extend outwardly.

Such a locking band as Just described is adapted to eiectively securetogether two cylindrical cans, as for example, cans A and B (Figs. 5 and6) having projecting end seams C. The cans are first stacked onepon topof the other and then the locking band II'is iltted around the adjoiningend seams C as best shown in Fig. 6. In this position oi the band theupper row of lugs I4 engages against the top edge of the end seam of theupper can B. The lower row of lugs Il engages under the end seam of thelower can A. These lugs thus hold the end seams of the cans tightlytogether with a uniform pressure evenly distributed around the cans.

The ends of the applied band are locked together by the tongue and slotconnection and by the locking projections 25, 26. The ends of the bandtelescope in overlapping relation, the lenlarged end portion i6 lappingover the reduced end portion i7 with `the tongue 2| fitting into itsslot 22. This tongue and slot connection guides the holding lugs i4adjacent the ends of the band into holding position and thus preventssidewise or transverse displacement of the band ends.

The locking projections 25 nest into the cooperating projections 26, thebase of the projections adjacent their open ends 21 interengaging andthus locking the band in place on the containers. This manner ofsecuring two cans together grips the end seams both vertically andhorizontally (as viewed in Fig. 6) with such a strong hold that the cansare inseparable. In a similar manner more than two cans may be securedtogether by the use of more than one band.

Fig. 5 shows three such cans connected such as v might be used forexplosive.

Two such cans locked together with a single band would make asatisfactory double compartment can in which one can would first beopened and emptied after which by turning the unit over the other canwould be opened from the opposite end. In this way there would be nooccasion forremoving the band. Obviously, any number of cans may thus bejoined into aunitary structure.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changesrmay be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

.I claim:

1. A locking band adapted for permanently securing together cans havingend seams and arranged in stacked formation, which comprises asubstantially flat split ring adapted to engageA around adjacent endseams of the stacked cans, a plurality of inwardly strucklongitudinallyand transversely spaced rigid holding lugs formed in saidring and arranged around the ring for engaging and pressing together theadjacent end seams of the cans so as to uniformly hold them againstlateral separation, and means at the ends of said split ring forclamping the latter in end seam holding position.

2. A locking band adapted l:for permanently securing together canshaving end seams and arranged in stacked formation, which comprises asubstantially at split ring adapted to engage',

aroundadjacent end seams of the stacked cans, said ring having a tongueformed at one end thereof and a slot for receiving said tongue formed inthe other end thereof for circumferentially clamping the ring aroundsaid end seams, and a plurality of inwardly struck longitudinally andtransversely spaced rigid holding lugs formed in said ring and arrangedtherearound for engaging and pressing together the adjacent end seams ofthe cans so as to hold them against lateral separation and for exertinga uniformly distributed pressure circumferentially of said` seams.

3. A locking band adapted for permanently securing together cans havingend seams and arranged in stacked formation, which comprises asubstantially flat split ring adapted to engage around adjacent endseams of the stacked cans, a plurality of locking members formed in saidring adjacent its ends and arranged so that the members at one end willnest and lock within the members of the opposite end forcircumferentially clamping the ring around said end seams when the ringis in clamping position with its ends in overlapping relation, and aplurality of inwardly struck longitudinally and transversely spacedrigid holding lugs formed in and around said ring for engaging above andbelow and for pressing together the adjacent end seams of the cans so asto uniformly hold them against lateral separation circumferentially ofsaid seams.

4. A locking band adapted for permanently securing together cans -havingend seams and arranged in stacked formation, which comprises, asubstantially flat split ring adapted to engage around adjacent endseams of the stacked cans, one end of said ring being enlarged andhaving a tongue projecting therefrom, the opposite end of said ringbeing reduced for telescopic engagement with said enlarged end andhaving a slot adapted to-receive saidtongue, a plurality of locking mem-4bers formed in said ring adjacent its ends and arranged .so that themembers of one end will next andlock within the members of the oppositeend for circumferentially locking the ring in position around the canend seams when the ring ends are telescoped, and a pair of transverselyspaced rigid rows of inwardly struck longitudinally spaced holding lugsformed in said ring for engaging above and below and for pressingtogether the adjacent end seams of the cans so as to uniformly hold themagainst lateral separation at all circumferential parts of said seams.

. JOHN M. HOTHERSALL.

